Disneyland Resort
At the Disneyland Resort in California, the project is going to be the final phase of the DCA Refurbishment, consisting of a Hollywoodland overhaul and A Bug's Land Replacement.
We'll start by focusing on the former Hollywood Pictures Backlot area. For years, this has essentially been DCA's equal to Disneyland's Tomorrowland. It has some of the most popular attractions in the park but the overall "magic of the movies" thematics simply don't come together...Mostly thanks to the uneven tone represented in the courtyard area which now hosts two long-in-the-tooth Frozen attractions, a Monsters Inc. dark ride that's tucked into the back of the park and barely gets any traffic, and a couple empty buildings that haven't been used for anything in almost a decade.
This is where were focusing our attention. Frozen is getting a somewhat permanent Broadway style show inside the Hyperion, meaning the "Frozen Fever" can officially die down and we can start seeing some of the Hollywoodland offerings going back to the classic film making roots.
General cosmetic changes to all the buildings will be applied, including Disney Animation getting a new exterior that calls reference to the design of the Disney Studios in the 1940s. In fact, the whole area will be made over to reflect the themes and culture of this decade in Hollywood history.
Sharp eyed guests can spot Disney posters for World War II propoganda, a nod to a dark but significant time in the studio's time line.
The Hyperion Theater will get a major top to bottom refurbishment. The area where the sky map painting used to be will be used to add an extension to the theater which serves as a proper lobby. The exterior will call to mind the Disney's El Capitan theater.
The extra room on the side of the Hyperion will go towards giving the Tower of Terror a major expansion to the queue featuring a version of the much loved overgrown gardens from the attraction's Florida counterpart. This will make the transition from the Hyperion to entering the Tower much more immersive.
One of the major black marks of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot has been the fact that Hollywood and Dine has been sitting dormant for over a decade. With this new expansion this will finally change as the building will play host to a unique dining experience.
Guests at The Ink and Paint Club will pass the gorilla bouncer on their way to an exclusive humans only night club right out of Who Framed Roger Rabbit.A rotating stage plays host to a 45 minute musical revue featuring classic classic Disney crooners such as Jessica Rabbit, Prince Naveen, Alan A Dale, and in an exclusive deal with Six Flags who owns the Warner Brothers IPs...a recreation of the famous dueling piano scene between Donald Duck and Daffy Duck.
In terms of continuity, the Ink and Paint Club resides in Hollywood in the film, while Toon Town is on the outskirts. This would make the club's relationship to Disneyland's Toon Town nearly geographically spot on.
The Muppets will be making their long-awaited return to California Adventure with an all new experience...Muppet Vision 8D! The old "MuppetVision 3D" film will be available for purchase along with several theme park related Muppet shorts including "The Muppets Go to Walt Disney World" in a special seminal BluRay to preserve MuppetVision as one of the final things Jim Henson worked on in his life time.
This attraction will be an all out parody of the 4/5D craze that has been hitting the theme park industry lately. Each park seems desperate to crack out as many "dimensions" as possible regardless if the extra "D's" add to the overall experience.
The Muppets would be a perfect property to poke fun at this trend.
Pacific Rim 5D featuring 3D glasses... moving seats... barely functioning misters... smell-o-vision that straight up doesn't work.... and...um...um....moving pictures???
Queue and Exterior
The elaborate "3D" marque of the original Muppet Vision will be replaced with a far more modest "Muppet Theater" exterior to blend in with the rest of the new 1940's inspired Hollywood Land. It will resemble something like this, with the word "MUPPET" spelled out vertically facing multiple sides of the street.
"Muppet Vision 8D" is spelled out on the marquee in big bold letters.
The queue takes us through some familiar props like the Pigs in Space ship, Fozzie's collection of pies and rubber chickens, and the silhouette of Gonzo crashed into the side of the brick building. There will also be some references to some of the early Muppet properties. Sharp eyed guests will note the cross streets of the theater are Sesame Street and Henson Avenue.
Inside the theater you can see dressing rooms for early Sam and Friends characters "Sam" (with a sticky not clarifying "NOT Eagle!") "Harry the Hipster" and "Professor Madcliffe". Rolfe's dressing room is slapped with a large Jimmy Dean sticker referencing his early career as a spokesperson.
Pre-Show
The pre-show will feature Kermit interacting with Dr. Honeydew and Beaker in the Muppet Labs, explaining the concept of 8D. Kermit is insisting that the eight dimensions rely on traits the Muppets have been using since day one, and won't be relying on any "cheap three...um...eight-dee tricks!"
Honeydew insists on the contrary, saying that the magnicifcent innovations they've come up with are sure to burst the line between aduience and movie screen wide open. Beaker stands nervously in the corner awaiting what's to come.
Each of the different "dimensions" in the title refer to common traits of famous Muppet characters. There will be hints of each Muppet and their respective scene and dimension scattered throughout the lobby (which serves as extra storage because the Muppets are too cheap to have a storage room!) Here are some examples.
Dimension One: Science with Beaker and Honeydew (a mobile lab chemist set is seen. Various concoctions are brewing the the glass tubes.)
Dimension Two: Comedy with Fozzie Bear (A tie rack with a comically large amount of identical polka dot bow ties can be seen.)
Dimension Three: Adrenaline with Gonzo (The crashed and destroyed motorcycle he used to crash through the side of the theater is in full view)
Dimension Four: Criticism with Satler and Waldorf (Literally an entire balcony has crashed into the side of the lobby with yellow cation tape surrounding it. Satler and Waldorf's names are engraved on the two seats)
Dimension Five: Beauty with Miss Piggy (A collection of wigs and reproductions of various outfits Piggy has worn in different Muppet movies can be seen on a rolling wardrobe)
Dimension Six: Terror with Uncle Deadly (An ominous looking trunk with spikes all around it can be seen chained up with an over the top amount of chains. A hand written note from Uncle Deadly reads "do not open til' show time!"
Dimension Seven: Music with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem (A destroyed drum set can be seen in the corner)
Dimension Eight: Patriotism with Sam Eagle (Destroyed dolls from the famous "A Tribute to all Countries but Mostly America" can be seen)
Kermit reminds us that the unseen ninth dimension represents himself...which is "Family", the bond tying the Muppets together. As we get that bit of deep sentiment we are let into the theater. Yaaaaaaaaay!
Show Experience
The theater looks pretty much intact from when it was MuppetVision 3D with a few changes. The orchestra of penguins is now twice as large. The stage around the penguins has been entirely reconstructed into a rotating stage of various Muppet characters. The different Muppet AA scenes are stored on ground level and rotate to come up onto the stage. Satler and Waldorf's balcony will be reconstructed as a balcony for Rolfe to play the piano throughout the show like a true Vaudeville theater.
The film begins in Muppet Labs with Beaker and Honeydew after a quick introduction by Kermit. Honeydew is showing off his latest invention called "BeakerVision". There is a large, ominous walk-in microwave Honeydew instructs Beaker to enter. Once he does Honeydew sets some numbers and Beaker starts swelling to a ridiculous size.
Finally, Beaker bursts resulting in an in-theater explosion and a projection mapping effect of thousands of tiny Beakers scattering throughout the theater with the cries of panicked "meeps". Honeydew declares the experiment a resounding success, as you can now see Beaker from all different dimensions.
A cream pie floats by and the camera follows it into Fozzie's dressing room where he attempts to entertain us with some of his "Cheap 3D tricks!" This is basically a hold over/remake of his classic MuppetVision scene with a few added twists.
Walter and Scooter then come on and tell Fozzie that the stage needs to be cleared for Gonzo's act. Walter is acting as the assistant to Scooter...so yea...the assistant to the assistant. Walter isn't taking this well and confides in the audience that he wishes to run away. Walter will essentially serve the same function as Bean Bunny to the plot.
The stage opens up to reveal a hoop of fire and a bunch of AA live action chickens, with Camilla off to the side in a small box seat for security. There's a ramp on screen leading up to the hoop which is in the theater. We see Gonzo ride down the hallway, and in a flash he "crashes" right into the Sweedish Chef's projection booth where the two of them in AA form get into a bit of a quarrel. We can see a large hole in the theater revealing a big portion of the projection room.
"Ooooh, this is terrible...Someone change the channel" says a couple of familiar cantankerous disembodied voices. The screen goes black and Satler and Waldorf pop up. This segment uses Turtle Talk style technology as voice actors off stage interact with the audience and make poke fun and specific things they see in the crowd. This is one of the few added dimensions in the show that truly adds a unique element and isn't just for comedic useless effect.
We then see the screen flicker back to the Muppet stage as an AA of Miss Piggy stands against a back curtain singing a rendition of "Couldn't We Ride" from The Great Muppet Caper. She is doing this a-capella and absolutely butchering it. The AA penguins are off to the side covering their ears and squawking in pain. A huge batch of pink bubbles drops on the audience during the song's finale.
The screen goes dead as we see Walter in his dressing room with a dillema. He absolutely loves the Muppets but doesn't think he's getting a fair shake considering his lowly assistant-to-assistant position (after all, he did save the Muppets on two different occasions!)
He's considering pulling a Bean Bunny when he notices the large ominous crate from Uncle Deadly that can be found in the pre-show lobby. "Well, well, well my boy. It looks like you've found my dear crate...of horrors..."
Deadly gives a literal "maniacal laugh" as he opens the trunk, revealing a barrage of the cheapest Halloween decorations you could possibly imagine...From rubber spiders and snakes to googly eye balls and disembodied skeletal parts. They all fly at the screen in spectacular 3D fashion. Afterwards, Deadly pops up with a very delayed "...Boo!..."
Walter then realizes these gimmicks aren't doing the show any favors and decides not to leave. It's too late though as an over the top search party has already started for Walter featuring a walk-on role from Sweetums!
Walter reveals himselfs and comments on how the Muppets got way too freaked out about him leaving. After all, two movies were already devoted to him joining the muppets...Perhaps at the expensive of the screen time of other beloved and well established muppet characters... :sigh: come on, Robin...
Once this issue with Walter is resolved, it's time for the two part finale to the show. The first part sees a full AA Electric Mayhem band on the rotating stage performing a rendition of the classic "Can You Picture That" from The Muppet Movie.
Finally, the tune of Star Spangled Banner begins to play as we take part in Sam Eagle's "Yet Another Salute to All Nations...But Still Mostly America!"
Live AA Small World style dolls join the penguin orchestra as the screen shows a completely crazy over the top lavish remake of perhaps the most memorable segment from the original MuppetVision. Things take a chaotic turn as a spare firework hits the Chef's already destructed projection booth.
The Chef has had enough and breaks out his infamous cannon...which takes a MASSIVE chunk out of the theater causing far more convincing damage than the explosion in the original show. And with that the hole in the theater leads out into Buena Vista Street as we see Kermit the Frog riding the Red Car Trolleys and thanking us for joining him and the entire Muppets family.
Upon exiting, the old "Rizzo's Prop and Pawn" store is back open for business after a tenor as the relatively bland "Studio Store". Here is where you can purchase your authentic Blu-Ray copy of the original MuppetVision 3D for prosperity purposes!
The Great Movie Ride
One of the most iconic Disney attractions of all time finally makes its way to the west coast in a completely new and revitalized way. California Adventure's "Great Movie Ride" will be an Omnimover E Ticket designed to be both one of the most popular attractions of the park and one that operates at the highest capacity. Think of this as DCA's Pirates.
Unlike the original Great Movie Ride, this version will focus primarily on films from the 1920's to 1940's to keep with the time period that this Hollywood Land is set in. The attraction will be built in a massive show building that spans from the old Millionaire Building to Monsters Inc. The "Hollywood Land" Hills will become a new weenie for this part of the park. The 75 foot forced perspective hill will provide the perfect counter point to the Tower of Terror in this land's new skyline. The hills will be carefully constructed to allow safe passage for the Monorail with no need for retracking.
The queue will be themed to a movie set for The Great Train Robbery taking place on the Hollywood Land backlot. This will be constructed around the Muppet Theater. The queue winds its way through the outdoor set constructed around a massive train as seen in the original 1903 film.
The queue leads us into a tunnel built into the hills, where it's revealed that only the engine of the train is constructed, to be used in an elaborate shot where the engine in coming out of a tunnel, which is where the queue is centered around.
Past the prop train engine, we see the loading area which is takes on a naturalistic tone and features a waterfall as the centerpiece. This will serve as a nice neutral starting point for the rest of the films on display.
After leaving the station, we find ourselves within the German expressionism of Nosfarotu and see the famous creeping shadow.
After going through a long castle hallway, we exit the count's dominion and find ourselves within the jungles of The Lost World. Large stop motion dinosaurs surround us as we traverse this primeval landscape.
Fading into a glowing sepia toned sunset, we suddenly find ourselves within the spires of Metropolis where we focus on a recreation of this set piece.
The industrial oppression theme is continued as we move into the factory and see Charlie Chaplin rigged up to an elaborate contracption based on this scene.
Moving out of the factor we find ourselves on the frontier parries as the Overland Stagecoach makes its way across the plains.
Passing the plains, we find ourselves on the Southern plantation of Gone with the Wind during a golden sunset bursting with technicolor. This is the first non-sepia toned scene of the ride, and it vividly stands out pulling us into the rest of the attraction
When the attraction uses color, it makes a big impact. Moving back into black and white however, we pass the O'Hara Plantation House and find ourselves within the overgrown gardens and medieval stone walls of Citizen Kane's Xanadu. This is perhaps one of the most well known film locations of all time.
Coming back into a sepia toned view of some Kansas farm land, we see a twister making its way towards a farmhouse. Entering a transitional tunnel, we see an old woman riding on a bicycle who then transforms herself into a cackling witch within a swirling vortex complete with heavy wind via large unseen fans.
Finally, passing through the farmhouse, we open the door to reveal the very first fully technicolor scene of the ride, and the attraction's finale. It's a giant landscape of many iconic scenes from Fantasia. Mickey looms above standing on a large mountain controlling crashing waves. We pass by the dancing mushrooms of the nutcracker and see the hippos and alligator ballet of Dance of the Hours.
Finally, the last image we see is Stokowski conducting and large splashes of color illuminating from behind him in an elaborate projection mapping effect. To the tune of a light tuba version of Sorcerer's Apprentice we make our way back out into the cave where we started our journey.
The Great Movie Ride in California Adventure is a bit less formal and relies more on heavy transitions and set pieces. It's a far different take from the classic ride and offers a time period accurate representation of the most iconic films of that era.
The High Sierras
Replacing a vast majority of A Bug's Land will be this ambitious new transitional area into Car's Land. Flick's Flyers and Hemlich's Chew Chew Train will be relocated to the former Bountiful Valley Farms, as well as a collection of the tall clovers and blades of grass so we can still get those awesome Tower perspective shots! These two rides will remain as they are some of the most popular in the park for very young guests, and this is a demographic that while improved over the years still can't afford to loose anything that it's catered to from within the park.
This essentially creates a small Bug's Land mini area before making your way to the main attraction in a Disney recreation of the Sierra Nevadas, which serve as a transitional point in its own right into the actual state of California.
The actual exterior of the Sierra mountains will be about three quarters the size of th Cadillac Range and will serve as a perfect transition. The actual land will be small and contain a singular attraction, but an attraction that California Adventure needs desperately.
The High Sierras Suspended Railway
This will serve as California Adventure's signature E-Ticket family coaster...something that has long since been missing from the park. Using ride vehicles very similar to an Arrow suspended coaster (see Iron Dragon at Cedar Point or Ninja at Six Flags Magic Mountain) this will offer a unique ride system that essentially acts as a suspended version of the swinging Seven Dwarfs Mine Trains.
The storyline revolves around a revolutionary technology that was developed after the Gold Rush using minor shades of Steampunk alternate history. Since the Sierras were infamously treacherous, the Suspended Railway was a huge success in getting large groups of people across the mountains without the possibility of a Donner Party style tragety.
The railway uses a series of switchbacks to traverse through the mountain at high speeds. In traditional theme park fashion...SOMETHING GOES WRONG!!! when a switchback malfunctions and sends us into a unfinished set of track calling back to the famous scene at the top of Expedition Everest.
This results in a thrilling high speed descent down the Sierras that travels both forwards and backwards and features a ton of free swinging banking turns. Using a simple storyline and a stunning backdrop, The High Sierra Suspended Railway promises to be by far one of the most popular attractions in the entire park, and one geared towards all ages!
